Nine Years

It was an innocent promise with one person serious and one not. It was a bet between children-we were twelve!- and now, nine years later, my long-lost childhood best friend shows up on my doorstep in a tux, ready to whisk me off and marry me like he promised!

Delilah Madison had long forgotten about her childhood best friend, Zach Taylor, and the innocent promise they made nine years ago.

"When we're older, Del, and you come home , you'll marry me."

"I promise."

And now he shows up in a tuxedo at twelve thirty on a Tuesday, ready to marry her. But there's a few problems- Delilah has a boyfriend, who she loves, she barely remembers Zach, and she never had and feelings for him in the first place!

But when she does let Zach back into her life, will she fall for him?

He stood on my doorstep, his hair tousled, soaking wet, his muscley body in a tuxedo. His brown eyes were staring at my rather childish pajamas. A cold breeze was starting to weave its way into my sorority house, and I shivered.

"Delilah...." He whispered hoarsely, "will you marry me?"

I did what any self-respecting twenty one year old would do. I slammed the door in his face.

"Wait!" He pounded on the door. "You promised!"

No, I'm not some whoreqw, I don't cheat and lie and promise marriage to my boyfriends. The two of them I've had.

"I know for certain that I've never promised marriage to anyone!" I screamed through the door.

"What?"

"Ugh!" I grumbled before opening the door.

He was still there, an annoyed smirk tugging at his lips. "You promised me, nine years ago, when you were moving, you would marry me."

"Zach?" I whispered. I cold hear the rain pounding the pavement, moving as fast as my own heart.

"It's me, the one and only." He whispered, pulling me into a hug.

Instantly, I wrestled my way out of his arms. "No. You left me for nine years. Not a text message, a call, an email, not even a letter. Now you want me to MARRY YOU?" I hissed.

"But don't you remember Del?" He whispered softly, his voice trailing off.

April 19, nine years previously......

It was a spring day, late April, the cherry tree was in full bloom, the soft pink petals swirling to the ground. Zach and I were laying on a blanket, eating lunch. We had grown up together, he was closer to me than I was to my own parents.

"Let me guess.." He poked my arm. " Peanut butter and banana sandwich!" He crowed.

"How'd you know?" I giggled.

"Del, I know everything about you."

"Not everything." I mumbled, turning away.

Zach put a hand on my shoulder. "What do you mean?"

Instantly, I started to cry. Zach pulled me into his familiar arms. I remember loving his smell.

"Shhh Del what's wrong?"

"I'm moving. Tomorrow. To California!" I choked, burying my face in his chest.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He sounded incredibly hurt, we did tell each other everything.

"I couldn't!"

"When are you leaving?" He whispered.

"Tomorrow...."

"You promise me, Del," He demanded, holding me at arms length. "That you'll write. That you'll call. And when were older, and you come home, you'll marry me."

"I promise."

I was brought back to the present, Zach staring me down, waiting for my answer.

"I can't, Zach, I barely know you anymore!" I protested.

He smirked, then replied, "Then it's time for you to get to know me."

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This is my new story, Nine Years! I hope you like it!😘